Yesterday, at a ceremony taking place at the Ministry of Health’s Equipment Warehouse, Minister of Health Dr. Nazira Abdula accepted a donation of medical supplies and equipment from the United States Government worth US$3.2 million dollars. The United States Ambassador, Dean Pittman, announced that this equipment would reach 1,400 health facilities throughout Mozambique, helping to ensure that Mozambican hospitals have the resources necessary to make child birth safer for both women and newborns.

This handover ceremony marked the completion of a commitment made to the Government of Mozambique by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support the Ministry of Health with essential medical and health equipment. According to official UN statistics, Mozambique’s maternal mortality rate is slightly higher. Following Mozambique’s 2011 demographic and health survey, the maternal mortality rate is 408 deaths per 100,000 live births. It still means that every year, about 4,500 Mozambican women die of causes related with pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate post-natal period. USAID therefore partners with the Ministry of Health to improve and expand public health physical infrastructure, and support innovative and cost-effective approaches to increase the number of skilled medical professionals working in all health facilities. This equipment donation is part of a USAID’s broader, holistic program of health support to Mozambique.

During the handover ceremony, the U.S. Ambassador applauded the strong relationship between USAID and the Ministry of Health, and highlighted the successes resulting from years of collaboration. He also recognised that there is a lot of work to be done before every woman and newborn in Mozambique has access to quality maternal care. “We are still losing women from preventable or treatable causes. We are still losing newborns and children from preventable or treatable causes. By working together to strengthen Mozambique’s health system, we will continue to accelerate progress towards national goals to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality rates”, noted the Ambassador.

United States Government continues to be a committed partner of the Mozambican Government in the area of public health. This year, the American Government invested more than $80 million towards programs that strengthen maternal child health in Mozambique.